The EBU C-MAC/packet system for direct broadcasting by satellite

Satellite broadcasting services for Europe at 12 GHz are governed by the WARC-BS '77 Plan. The plan was based on a reference system of a conventional analog television plus one analog sound channel, but it made allowance for later developments. European Broadcasting Union (EBU) specialists have developed a new system which can use the WARC-BS '77 channels, having significant advantages over the reference system. The present investigation is concerned with some of the fundamental features of the system, known as 'C-MAC/packet'. A description is presented of the underlying principles of the system, taking into account the selection of the time-division multiplexing (TDM) techniques. Attention is given to modulation methods for satellite broadcasting and cabel distribution, image coding using the MAC video coding system, digital sound coding, packet multiplexing of the digital signals, service identification, the general receiver structure, and the performance of the C-MAC/packet system.